Disclaimer: Nope. They're not mine. But we can dream. ^_^.

A Lady Knight's Tale

Inuyasha walked ahead of them in a foul mood, cursing those bleeping toad youkai. They returned to where the ship had docked but found out that it was gone without a trace. Not even a few wooden boards were left in testimony that a ship used to be there. That left them without any choice but to go on foot.

"Are you sure we're going in the right direction?" Kagome asked wearily.

"Feh. I can smell him." Inuyasha replied, still quite irritatedly.

Only Inuyasha and Kagome engaged in any form of conversation. Miroku and Sango were strangely quiet, and it seemed that they were avoiding each others eyes. Kagome, however, did not miss the fact that they kept on stealing glances when the other was not looking. Sango blushed a steady shade of pink, apparently still embarrassed about the manner by which she had been found out the night before. knowing how lecherous the person involved was. And it didn't help that he kept running his eyes up and down her form.

Miroku, on the other hand, was preoccupied with other things, Sango, in particular, to notice that Kagome had been observing the couple's odd behavior. Kagome quickened her pace and caught up with Inuyasha up front.

"Say, Inuyasha..." Kagome whispered conspiratorially "What do you think about those two?"

"What about them?" Inuyasha asked, looking totally clueless.

"Don't you think Miroku likes Sango?" Kagome said "I mean, you did catch them kissing last night, right?"

"Feh. Miroku does that to all the women. He's just being a lech." Inuyasha said looking behind him.

Kagome yanked his head back forcibly. "Don't look at them! They might think we're talking about them!" she said frowning. "You think so? Don't you think he likes her in a different way?" Kagome said, refusing to let the topic drop.

"Ow! Ok, ok! Maybe, they were friends before after all." Inuyasha said, rubbing his neck in resignation.

Kagome clapped her hands. "Oh, I'm so glad you agree!" Inuyasha let out a big sigh. Kagome sure was stubborn when she had her mind set on something.

Sango's brows knit together as they set up camp. Most of the journey had been uneventful, except that Kagome and Inuyasha kept on whispering the whole time about something they would not let her or Miroku in on. But that was not what bothered her at the moment.

Ever since that night, Miroku had been somewhat...distant. She couldn't place it. He did call her beautiful and kissed her too. Although that in itself could hardly constitute itself as being a sign of Miroku having serious feelings for her. He was always like that around women, Sango thought ruefully as she curled up in her blanket.

Baka, Sango thought, turning on her side. I should never have kissed him.

"Why?" Miroku said.

"Wha--?" Sango looked at him in shock. Kami, he was awake! And she had said that aloud? And to think that she'd been so good at evading him before, now, all she seemed to do was get caught.

The deep violet eyes regarded her for a moment as she racked her mind for a good retort. Miroku stood up and sat down beside her.

"Sango." he said in that deep voice.

"What are you doing?" Sango said, trying to sound cross. "Go back to your place, Miroku-sama."

"But I want to talk." he protested.

Sango rolled her eyes, "What is there to talk about?" and turned her back on him as if to signal that the conversation was through. Uh-oh, bad move, but it was too late when Sango realized that it was a bad idea to do that. The "deed" was already done.

Less than a second later, Miroku was rubbing a red handprint on his cheek. "But I like you more as a girl!" he protested.

"I can see that!" Sango said furiously "Can't you keep those hands to yourself?" She "hmphed" and pulled the blankets over her head, while Miroku stood up and left. Finally, Sango thought gratefully...with a hint of disappointment?

She was mistaken, however, since Miroku never was one to give up that easily. Sounds of rustling fabric told her that he had unceremoniously dumped his beddings beside hers and was in the process of lying down a few inches away from her.

"What do you think you're doing? Sango said as she peered at him from under the sheets, she looked like she wanted to run far, far away. "Won't you leave me alone?"

They stayed there, face to face. As much as it embarrassed Sango to be in such a predicament, she didn't dare turn around again lest he start groping again.

"I can't." Miroku said. Something in the way he said it made Sango shut up. "Not until you answer my question."

The girl gave a long sigh "Have it your way, then."

"Why'd you kiss me at the ball, Sango?" Miroku's eyes were riveted on hers, as if trying to read her thoughts.

Sango looked away quickly, a deep blush betraying her feelings. "I don't have to answer that, Miroku." her voice serious. "Stay there if you want." Sango said as she shut her eyes. She was tired, tired of the whole thing, if Miroku thought that she was just like any other female whose feelings he toyed with, he was terribly wrong. Come to think of it, she was terribly wrong too, for thinking he felt the same way.

Miroku stared at the perplexed female who was pretending to be asleep. "In that case, Sango..." he reached out and took her hand, entwining it in his own. "...you are..special to me..and what's more is.." He stopped as he took note of how lovely Sango looked tonight, she was especially pretty with her hair loose and her eyes shining with utter defiance.

"What?"

Miroku smiled, that boyish smile that Sango thought was very cute. Without a word, he took her in his arms, whispering something in her ear that made her blush. The two of them fell asleep, as the deep night wore on.

"Psst, Inuyasha. Are you awake?" Kagome whispered. She knew he definitely was.

"What now, wench?" Inuyasha frowned.

"I was right, I was right!" she said "We should have made a bet on it."

Inuyasha looked sincerely relieved that they hadn't. "Oh go to sleep!"

Author's Notes: Hi! Domo arigato to those who reviewed for the last chapter. This one is woefully short again. Eh...too much schoolwork... Anyhow, do tell me what you think. ^_^ Ja ne!